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Long-term residence permit

TurkeyLong-term residence

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in Turkey Read the five questions ↓

What exact status does accumulated residence lead to?

Accumulated residence leads to the long-term residence permit, regulated by Articles 42-45 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection. It is issued indefinitely by the governorates upon approval of the Ministry. Holders may benefit from the same rights as Turkish citizens, except under the provisions of special laws and except compulsory military service, the right to vote and be elected, entering public services, and exemption from customs duties when importing vehicles.

See recorded sources
  • Section 4 LONG TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT
    Long term residence permit shall be regulated by Articles 42-45 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection.
  • Section 4 LONG TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT
    Long term residence permit shall be issued indefinitely.
  • Section 4 LONG TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT
    - A long term residence permit shall be issued by the governorates, upon approval of the Ministry, to the foreigners that have continuously resided in Turkey for at least eight years on a permit or to foreigners that meet the conditions set out by the Ministry.
  • Section 4 LONG TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT
    Foreigners holding a long-term residence permit may benefit from the same rights as accorded to Turkish citizens with the exception of the provisions of special laws, and of compulsory military service, the right to vote and to be elected, entering public services, and exemption from customs duties when importing vehicles.

What qualifying residence period is required and when does the period begin?

A long-term residence permit is issued to foreigners who have continuously resided in Türkiye for at least eight years on a permit, or to foreigners who meet the conditions set out by the Ministry. The official source does not state from which date the eight-year period is counted.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not state from which date the eight-year period is counted, nor how the Ministry's alternative conditions are set.
  • Section 4 LONG TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT
    - A long term residence permit shall be issued by the governorates, upon approval of the Ministry, to the foreigners that have continuously resided in Turkey for at least eight years on a permit or to foreigners that meet the conditions set out by the Ministry.
  • Section 4 LONG TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT
    In order long term residence permit’s to be issued, foreigner is required to fulfil the required conditions stated in Article 43 of the Law.
  • Section 4 LONG TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT
    - Having continuous residence in Turkey for at least eight years (In calculation of continuous eight years, half of the duration of student resident permits, as stated in Law Article 38, and the full duration of all other types of residence permits shall be taken into account.);

Which types of residence count fully, partially or not at all where the official rules specify this?

In calculating the continuous eight years, half of the duration of student residence permits under Article 38 is taken into account, and the full duration of all other types of residence permits counts. The duration of a humanitarian residence permit is not added to the total duration when calculating residence permit durations determined by the Law. Refugees, conditional refugees and subsidiary protection beneficiaries, as well as persons under temporary protection and humanitarian residence permit holders, are not entitled to transfer to a long-term residence permit.

See recorded sources
  • Section 4 LONG TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT
    In calculation of continuous eight years, half of the duration of student resident permits, as stated in Law Article 38, and the full duration of all other types of residence permits shall be taken into account.
  • Section 4 LONG TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT
    - Refugees, conditional refugees and subsidiary protection beneficiaries as well as persons under temporary protection and humanitarian residence permit holders are not entitled to the right of transfer to a long-term residence permit.
  • Section 5 HUMANITARIAN RESIDENCE PERMIT
    Durations of humanitarian residence permits shall not be added to the total duration in calculation of residence permit durations determined by the Law.

What absence/continuity rules affect accumulation of the qualifying residence period?

After the permit is granted, a long-term residence permit is cancelled where the holder stays out of Türkiye continuously for more than one year for reasons other than health, education and compulsory public service in their own country. A person whose long-term residence permit was cancelled for that reason may re-apply, and in re-applications the condition of continuous residence in Türkiye for eight years on a residence permit is not required. The official source does not state an absence limit that interrupts accumulation of the eight qualifying years.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not state an absence limit that interrupts accumulation of the eight qualifying years before the permit is granted.
  • Section 4 LONG TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT
    - stays out of Turkey continuously for more than one year for reasons other than health, education and compulsory public service in his/her country.
  • Section 4 LONG TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT
    In re-applications, the condition of continuous residence in Turkey for eight years on a residence permit shall not be required.
  • Section 4 LONG TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT
    Those whose long-term residence permits have been cancelled for being outside of Turkey continuously for more than a year for a reason other than health, education, assignment and compulsory public service in their own countries can make a re-application.

What other major conditions apply, how is the status obtained, and what renewal, document-validity, retention or loss rules matter?

The Article 43 conditions are continuous residence in Türkiye for at least eight years; no social assistance in the past three years; sufficient and stable income to maintain oneself and any family; valid medical insurance; and not posing a public order or public security threat, except foreigners approved by the Migration Policies Board. Governorates issue the permit indefinitely upon Ministry approval and cancel it where the holder poses a serious public security or public order threat, or stays out of Türkiye continuously for more than one year for reasons other than health, education and compulsory public service. Re-applications are lodged with consulates abroad, governorates or the Presidency.

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These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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